Recently in Solar
Commentary:
The McCoy Solar Energy Project in the California desert got a huge boost this week, as California Governor Jerry Brown certified the 750-megawatt NextEra solar development in Riverside County for expedited legal review under his recent, undemocratic reforms to the state's landmark environmental law.
Concentrating Solar:
A photo of the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System taken in late February by members of Basin and Range Watch points up a persistent problem with siting utility-scale solar facilities in the desert: once disturbed by construction, desert soils can loose huge amounts of particulate matter into the air.
Solar:
According to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the California Solar Initiative (CSI) has officially run out of rebate funding in much of the state, a tribute to the interest in going solar among California utility customers.
Solar:
Setting solar records in California is getting just a little bit commonplace: so far in February, the Golden State has broken six all-time solar records.
Solar:
It looks as though California has broken another solar power record, and it's done so in one of the least-sunny times of year possible.
Solar:
According to one energy executive, solar power will likely outstrip wind in the pace of new installations in 2013 in the United States.
Solar:
The state just came close to a solar output recrd set in August -- and it's the middle of winter.
Solar:
According to one group of industry analysts California is likely to regain its national solar lead in the next year, and the credit goes to our strong incentives.
Solar:
Two important articles on desert solar power projects graced the pages of major Southern California newspapers this weekend.
Utilities:
The plan is the largest utility-scale solar project on tribal land in the United States.
Solar:
California's schools are leading the way to a solar future, according to a new report released today.
Photovoltaic (PV):
A solar plant in San Luis Obispo County came online this week, and is now selling power to PG&E.
Solar:
Winners have been announced in Environment California's Solar Los Angeles video contest, and given how good the top three are we're really glad we didn't have to pick the winner.
Solar:
LADWP will buy power from a tribe hoping to replace their coal-polluted life with renewable energy.
Solar:
A Tennessee solar company shoots itself in the foot with sexist advertising.
Government:
Twentynine Palms' Planning Commission takes a strong stand against commercial solar development in town
Government:
Governor Brown signs bills making it easier to build solar on the Central Coast, and mine geothermal brine for valuable minerals.
Solar:
California's energy agencies are celebrating passing the 1-gigawatt solar mark.
Solar:
There's plenty of room for argument over whether Italy or California has the better food and wine, but when it comes to solar power, Italy wins hands down.
Government:
Three slightly wonky bills passed the California legislature this week that will make it easier to switch to solar.
News and analysis about renewable energy in California. Blog host Chris Clarke is an environmental writer of two decades standing. He currently lives in Joshua Tree and can be contacted at: rewire@kcet.org.
- Wind Power
- PV and Solar Thermal
- Energy Return on Energy Invested (EROEI)
- Watts and Watt-Hours, Kilo and Mega
- 'Enough To Power X Thousand Homes'
- The Grid
- Distributed Generation
- Conservation and 'Negawatts'
- Grid Storage
- PACE Loans, Feed In Tariffs and Net Metering
- Base Load and Peaking Power
- Capacity Factor
- Renewable Portfolio Standards
- Biomass
- Transportation and Renewable Energy
- Geothermal
